clams?

[congerorama]

Hey guys,

I've been thinking about getting a clam for my tank, and wanted to get people's advice on what it takes to successfully keep them.

I know lights are an absolute, I've got two 150W metal halides and two 130W PC actinics. I can place the clam high, to be near the lights and not deep in the tank.

But, what else do they need? Any supplemental feedings? Any significant water parameter requirements (e.g. no tolerance for any nitrates, phosphates, copper, etc...). I keep my tank clean and properly supplemented, but I'd still like to be aware of any specific requirements so I can gauge whether or not my tank would be a suitable home for a clam.

Any natural predators? My current fish list includes: firefish, midas blenny, 4-strip damsel, blue/green chromis, and a maroon clown.

I don't have many corals, just getting started with those guys. Several mushrooms, a zoa colony, trumpet coral frag, purple digitata, finger leather, and green star polyps. The tank has been set up for around 6 months, though I just moved into a new apartment so I had that hiccup in the continuity/stabilization of the tank.

Thanks for any advice and experience!

 

[Dangerous Ace]

Clams aren't too hard to keep. Just like any invert they have no tolerance for copper. Your lighting is fine for any type of clam but I usually don't suggest crocea's for anyone without halides. Make sure your calcium and alk are at proper levels as clams use alot of calcium. Clams like to be on rocks and will attach to them with bysasl threads and secrete an acid to burrow into the rock and attach even more securely. If they don't like where they are they may jump off the rock. Try and get a little bigger of a clam. The smaller ones need suplimental feedings. If you get a small one you can pull it out of the water and put it in a bowl of water with some DT's (enough to color the water) for an hour or so a couple of times a week. After they get a few inches across they are more photosynthetic and supplimental feedings can be done in the tank with DT's. Some people use bivalves in their refugium to help filter the water and clams can help reduce waste, although if Nitrates and phosphates are too high it can affect their growth rate. On the other hand if the tank is too clean there might not be enough for them to filter and then you definatly need to suppliment feed with DT's. The fish you have should be fine with clams but watch out for angels, idols, and more predetory fish (puffers, triggers stuff like that). Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Brian

 

[congerorama]

awesome, thanks a ton Brian! Great information.

 

[puffin04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14635203#post14635203 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dangerous Ace
Clams aren't too hard to keep. Just like any invert they have no tolerance for copper. Your lighting is fine for any type of clam but I usually don't suggest crocea's for anyone without halides. Make sure your calcium and alk are at proper levels as clams use alot of calcium. Clams like to be on rocks and will attach to them with bysasl threads and secrete an acid to burrow into the rock and attach even more securely. If they don't like where they are they may jump off the rock. Try and get a little bigger of a clam. The smaller ones need suplimental feedings. If you get a small one you can pull it out of the water and put it in a bowl of water with some DT's (enough to color the water) for an hour or so a couple of times a week. After they get a few inches across they are more photosynthetic and supplimental feedings can be done in the tank with DT's. Some people use bivalves in their refugium to help filter the water and clams can help reduce waste, although if Nitrates and phosphates are too high it can affect their growth rate. On the other hand if the tank is too clean there might not be enough for them to filter and then you definatly need to suppliment feed with DT's. The fish you have should be fine with clams but watch out for angels, idols, and more predetory fish (puffers, triggers stuff like that). Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Brian

Could not have said it better myself. I think croceas are the most light demanding thing in the ocean and from recent research are some what hard to keep in the long run. I would recommend a 3+in clam to start out with. Derasa and gigas are bullet proof clams but have incredible growth rate. Make sure you tank stables out first and good luck, thanks

Steffen Sparks